Blue Box Studios' Abandoned has certainly generated a stir among gamers, though perhaps not intentionally. While not much regarding the contents of the game have been shared thus far, that may change in the near future, as the pre-load date for the Abandoned app has been revealed.
Recently, players have shared conspiracy theories regarding the 'true' nature of Abandoned, speculating that what's known so far is simply a cover for a new Silent Hill game. While the game director has gone on-camera to say otherwise, those who are still desperate for any kind of new life in the Silent Hill series are holding onto hope.
The Abandoned app is said to provide more information on the game, including access to the title's first major trailer. It was originally set to release at the end of June, but has seen multiple delays since. Now, an updated PlayStation Store listing and the developer's official social media channels have revealed that the app will be available for pre-load on July 29. The app will launch its 'introduction' on August 10, with the trailer to follow sometime the same month.
Part of the reason why the speculation has continued has been due to the app itself. Rather than simply releasing a trailer online or during an event like E3, Abandoned has tied the trailer to the app. Much about the game is still a mystery, and fans of survival horror and Silent Hill are still excited by the prospect of either a secret new Silent Hill or possibly a game with similar gameplay and atmosphere to the Konami classics.
Of course, not every mysterious game generates this much excitement among gamers. But despite how long it's been since the last Silent Hill game released, fans are still clearly holding onto their fondness for the series, even if the hope for a new series entry coming from Blue Box is questionable at best.
It's worth noting, though, that the audience was primed for this kind of eager speculation by Konami, which chose to release the mysterious P.T. demo as a way of revealing the existence of the Silent Hills project. The demo had no obvious connection to Kojima or Konami upon its release, yet fans delving deep into the demo ultimately unlocked the Silent Hills teaser. It's reasonable for Silent Hill fans to still be looking for hints indicating something is going on.
While the release of Abandoned is unlikely to be a new Silent Hill, gamers may still end up discovering a new favorite with its launch. The release of the app will be the first major opportunity they get to see what the game has to offer.
Abandoned is in development for PC and PS5.